Students sneak peak at sneaky snakes

Friday

Feb 1, 2013 at 11:00 AM

Students from the Kiowa County and Haviland grade schools gathered to receive their Conservation District Poster awards on Tuesday morning and were treated to a presentation by two volunteers from Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC).

Patrick Clement

Students from the Kiowa County and Haviland grade schools gathered to receive their Conservation District Poster awards on Tuesday morning and were treated to a presentation by two volunteers from Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC).

KWEC Education Director Jean Aycock and Fort Hays State Biology Graduate Student Bryan Tanis gave a presentation on regional snakes that included a slide show, lecture, some samples of real snakeskin and a snake skeleton.

“We do outreach to show kids how cool nature can be,” said Aycock. “It’s really important for kids today to understand the environment. That’s part of our mission.”

Aycock and Tanis also brought two snakes, a female Great Plains bull snake and a male rat snake.

Aycock said that both snakes were “friendly” and neither is listed as being poisonous.

Groups of students took turns touching the snake followed by a round of questioning.

“Can a rattlesnake eat a kangaroo?” one of the students asked.

Following the presentation area students received ribbons for their conservation poster submissions.

editor@kiowacountysignal.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.